13 Comments
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Margaret Bennett's avatar

I really enjoyed this Helen, the sheep, heraldry and John Merrick.

I’m also hanging on to find out about the hat.

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Helen Barrell's avatar

Thank you! Fawsley is such a lovely place - it's so far off the beaten track, but it has such an interesting history and you're swallowed up by it in that tiny church!

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Oh yes, the hat! On tenterhooks... @Helen!

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Helen Barrell's avatar

We shall see...!!

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Helen! Your writing really makes me homesick. Which of course I mean as a huge compliment, not only because your writing evokes strong feelings, but also because nothing makes me homesick usually! I always look forward to your posts landing in my inbox ❤️

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Helen Barrell's avatar

Oh, thank you, that means so much!

I was thinking that Fawsley's not all that far from where you're from, so you know exactly the countryside it's set in.

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Your writing is wonderful (always) and so evocative, especially for a displaced person like me. And the photos too. You are gonna get me all teary-eyed!

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Helen Barrell's avatar

There's something incredibly English about Fawsley. All that history. If it's not tiny carved figures with Tudor shoes, it's all those sheep, and if it's not the haunted dower house, it's the Elephant Man coming to stay!

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Jayne Marshall's avatar

Exactly! So many stories… weirdly English ones!

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Lady Metroland's avatar

A fox preaching to a fowl would probably make me attend church! Thanks as always for introducing to a place I knew nothing about.

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Helen Barrell's avatar

Wouldn't that be great!

And that's ok - that's what I'm here for :)

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Ann Kennedy Smith's avatar

This is fascinating, Helen! Love hearing about the beautiful stained glass and those storied tombs.

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Helen Barrell's avatar

Thank you, Ann! It's a really amazing place!

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